J.D.B. News Letter

The two outstanding problems that seem to overshadow all other questions before the Jewry of Boston are politics and campaign fund raising to meet the growing budgetary requirements that have been mounting up as a result of the expansion building program. Just what the outcome will be is still speculative although it is stated that a larger Federation–that is a Jewish community chest may result from the present discussion to have one organization to raise all the funds required to meet the needs of the community.

Too, Boston is threatened with a large number of drives that are bound to conflict with each other unless radical steps are taken to cope with the problem. Boston has a well organized Federation. When the Federation was formed it was the hope of those that made it a reality that one annual drive for funds for all local needs would be made. New situations have arisen and in the last few years independent organizations requiring large sums of money have grown up, creating new problems.

With the opening of the new Jewish hospital, one of the best in this country, the question now is what shall be done to secure all the money needed to cover the needs of all institutions? The proposal that Boston should have a Jewish Community Chest was put forward. A drive for one million dollars is contemplated. This will not solve the whole problem as the million dollars is for local needs only. A number of the leaders propose that United Palestine Appeal should be included in the chest. Max Shoolman one of the largest contributors to both the hospital, the Federation and who is the chairman of the New England U. P. A. is in favor of including the U. P. A. in the chest. But the suggestion to be carried into effect will require the endorsement of the Zionists and the non-Zionists and it is difficult to tell how this will be taken by both. Meanwhile, the local United Palestine Appeal is awaiting definite agreement on the chest proposals.

As for the political situation, it is noteworthy to call attention to the recent primaries. Two Jewish candidates were on the Democratic State ticket, Mr. Scharton as a candidate for Attorney General and Daniel England of Pittsfield, Mass., as candidate for State Treasurer. These candidates were put on the Democratic ticket with a view of attracting the Jewish Republicans but both candidates were defeated. Mr. England has been a candidate before on the Democratic ticket.

As a whole the candidacy of Frank G. Allen the present Lieut. Governor who is the Republican nominee for Governor to succeed Gov. Alvan T. Fuller has attracted many leading Jews to his support.

The only woman on the Governor’s Council, Mrs. Esther M. Andrews who was appointed by Governor Fuller to fill the vacancy caused by the death of a member of the Council, was nominated by the Republican party to that office. This virtually means her election as she comes from a district that is overwhelmingly Republican. She is the first woman and the first Jewess to sit in the chamber of the Governor’s Council. Mrs. Andrews has a reputation as a champion of social legislation.

Preparation is under way for the National Conference of the United Palestine Appeal, which takes place here on November 10 and 11. Boston is looking forward to this conference. It is the hope of the Zionists to heal the breach that has been caused as a result of the last conventon in Pittsburgh.

Negotiations are well under way to include the local Hadassah in the U. P. A. drive that will be launched simultaneously with the coming of the National Conference. Moses Mishel, president of Temple Mishkan Tefilah who has accepted an important post in the New England Zionist movement, is the leading spirit to restore harmony in the Zionist ranks. He is receiving the cooperation of the administrative board of the New England Zionists. The first conference with Mrs. David A. Lourie, president of Hadassah has been successful. Another meeting is under way and as a result it is expected that there will be one Palestine drive here.

Lord Melchett is due here Oct. 9. He will address the Chamber of Commerce on industrial problems. Lord Melchelt is also to speak at Harvard. An invitation has also been extended to him to address a meeting of the Zionist organization.

The Harry E. Burroughs Newsboy’s Foundation has just awarded scholarships to cight of the fourteen boys who applied to the foundation formed by Mr. Burroughs, himself a former newsboy. The founder has also purchased the former Elk’s home as a recreational centre for the newsboys. Only five scholarships were to be awarded but so impressed was the founder with the applicants that he added three more to the list in order to enable deserving newsboys to attend college. The successful candidates were: David Esselson, George Esselsohn, Jacob Gardner, Aaron Glass, George Glass, Harry Krutter, Louis Raverby and Earl Tyler. The committee that made the awards included George W. Coleman of Babson Institute, who was chairman.

A gift of $10,000 to the new Beth Israel Hospital by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Ginsburg in addition to the $15,000 previously given by the donors was announced by Albert Ginsburg, president’ of the hospital. The out-patient department of the new hospital is to be opened this week. Patients of all races and creeds will be treated in this department. Dr. Willinsky, the director of the institution, announced.